Peoria

President Biden Nominates Peoria Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley for U.S. District Court Position

by

Peoria, Ill. — U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, currently presiding in Peoria, has been nominated by President Joseph Biden to ascend to the role of a full district judge. This nomination aims to fill the vacancy that will arise as U.S. District Judge James Shadid transitions to senior status, a form of semi-retirement that allows judges to maintain a lighter caseload while remaining active on the bench. The announcement from the White House came early Wednesday, setting the stage for what is expected to be a thorough review of Hawley’s credentials and jurisprudence by … Read more

Peoria County Grand Jury Indicts Two Individuals in Separate Cases of Attempted Sexual Meet-ups with Minors

by

PEORIA, Ill. – Two individuals in Peoria County have been indicted by a grand jury for attempting to meet with minors for sexual encounters in separate cases. Gary Sherwin, a 65-year-old resident of Roodhouse, has been formally charged with one count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child. Sherwin was arrested by the Chillicothe Police task force on March 4, following allegations that he had arrived in Chillicothe with the intention of engaging in sexual contact with a child. The task force has identified at least two potential victims involved in the case. Sherwin was released … Read more

Peoria Men Indicted for Fatal Armed Robbery Plot in Facebook Marketplace Transaction

by

Peoria, Illinois – Two men have been indicted by a grand jury for their involvement in an armed robbery that resulted in the death of one individual. According to a news release from the grand jury, Sontarrius Williams, 27, and Jaylyn Branscumb, 18, allegedly participated in a robbery after arranging to meet sellers for a transaction on Facebook Marketplace for a vehicle. The incident occurred on January 16 when the prospective buyers met the supposed sellers in an alley near the 2100 block of West Lincoln Ave. The investigation determined that it was a planned … Read more

Peoria Teen Arrested for Allegedly Threatening Local Judge: Authorities Take Swift Action

by

PEORIA, Ill. – A teenager from Peoria is facing charges for allegedly making threats against a local judge. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of the judicial system in the city. According to authorities, the 17-year-old, whose identity has been withheld due to their age, was taken into custody after making threatening comments towards a judge. The comments were reportedly made online and sparked immediate action by law enforcement. It is still unclear what led the teenager to target the judge in question. The incident serves as a reminder of the … Read more